California Wildfire Victims Question $100M FireAid Fund Allocation

Following the devastating wildfires in Southern California, a high-profile charity concert named FireAid raised over $100 million to aid victims, featuring stars like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Olivia Rodrigo. However, many victims, including David Howard and Mark Jones, report receiving no direct assistance, prompting concerns about the transparency and allocation of the funds. FireAid states that $75 million has been granted to 188 nonprofit organizations, with the remaining $25 million designated for long-term wildfire mitigation and rebuilding efforts, though the exact impact on individual victims remains unclear. The Annenberg Foundation, which helped organize the event, claims only an advisory role, while spending decisions are made by a FireAid Advisory Committee composed of philanthropists and business executives. California Congressman Kevin Kiley has called for an investigation by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi into the distribution of the donations. President Donald Trump criticized the initiative as a "Democrat-inspired scam," highlighting the public distrust caused by the lack of transparency in the relief efforts.